WF loose diamonds *CUT*

[glisten]

Research, research and more research... my head is starting to spin!!

I''ve been searching for White Flash loose diamonds. Specifically asscher cuts!
I understand that cut is the most important "c"... but i am wondering why white flash does not provide details about whether it is ideal, good, fair...etc...

How is the quality of the cut determined? Is it a formula between depth, table, dimensions, crown height??... or is it determined from looking at IS and ASSET images?? I feel very confused!

Also, what is the process if you would like white flash to bring the diamonds in house to provide pictures and a rating? How much does it cost/diamond??

Thanks... you all have helped this diamond virgin so much already!!

 

[Allison D.]

Howdy, Glisten - maybe I can help.

We don''t provide cut grades because grading labs don''t yet assign cut grades to asschers. Part of the reason is that fancies are much harder to evalute; you can have a lovely asscher with a very small table or a very large table; the tolerances for what makes a good stone are much broader than they are with rounds.

In most cases, looking as IS and ASET images will help to tell the story; images of the stone help, too.

We have a few asschers in our Premium Select category, but we have access to anything on the virtual inventory list as well. If you''d like us to bring a specific stone, give that information to your sales rep. The only charges we pass to you occur if we recommend the stone based on a satisfactory evaluation and you decide not to purchase; then you incur the shipping charges in both directions. In other cases (we don''t recommend the stone OR we do recommend it and you purchase it), there are no charges passed to you for having brought it in.

Hope this helps.

 

[outatouch0]

Date: 11/15/2009 1:12:52 AM
Author:glisten
Research, research and more research... my head is starting to spin!!

I can identify with the frustration having been there myself. I have seen many similar comments from others too. I think it is a pretty common experience in the journey. Perhaps if we don''t get to this point of frustration we aren''t trying hard enough!!

 

[gemnewbie]

A Whiteflash sales associate tried to convince me to have them bring a stone in for evaluation. At first, he said only that they would take down my credit card, but not charge it. When I pressed him for details, he explained my potential liability for shipping charges if I declined to purchase.

Personally, I would avoid WF. Most Pricescope vendors who are trying to sell you something not in their posession will call in a stone for evaluation without any financial obligation to the potential purchaser. There''s no reason to commit to ANY financial obligation for a stone that the purchaser has insufficient information about to make any committment. To become liable for one cent, just because WF recommends the stone after looking at it, makes no sense in my opinion. Just because WF, who is trying to make a sale, likes it doesn''t mean that you will.

My suggestion---contact GOG (or another Pricescope vendor) and ask them to bring in the stone (or a similar one) for evaluation.

 

[Abril]

Date: 11/15/2009 11:41:19 AM
Author: gemnewbie
A Whiteflash sales associate tried to convince me to have them bring a stone in for evaluation. At first, he said only that they would take down my credit card, but not charge it. When I pressed him for details, he explained my potential liability for shipping charges if I declined to purchase.


Personally, I would avoid WF. Most Pricescope vendors who are trying to sell you something not in their posession will call in a stone for evaluation without any financial obligation to the potential purchaser. There''s no reason to commit to ANY financial obligation for a stone that the purchaser has insufficient information about to make any committment. To become liable for one cent, just because WF recommends the stone after looking at it, makes no sense in my opinion. Just because WF, who is trying to make a sale, likes it doesn''t mean that you will.


My suggestion---contact GOG (or another Pricescope vendor) and ask them to bring in the stone (or a similar one) for evaluation.

Totally agree. This is one of Whiteflash''s more unsavory business practices, IMO.

 

[swingirl]

I purchased my asscher from WF. I gave them very specific requirements for depth and table percentages. They hunted down several, spoke with their suppliers to make sure the stones were decent and found 3 that I agreed were worth calling in. WF evaluated and photographed them and gave me their recommendation. (I believe the first called-in stone is free) I bought 1 of the stones so for me the system worked well and I wasn't charged a fee.

I am not sure how other vendors handle calling in stones and how many they will call in for you for free. Check with other vendors. GOG and JA usually keeps quite a few asschers in stock so you could pick from their in-house stones and avoid having anything called in.

 

[glisten]

Thank you all for your responses and advice.

I seem to constantly turn to WhiteFlash because they have made so many custom rings that I love... and they always seems to receive rave reviews from their customers.... however, their lack of in house asscher cuts definitely makes me hesitant as I don''t want to bare the costs of seeking further information on diamonds I could only *possibly* be interested in.

I have visited JA and GOG, both seem to have a larger selection of asschers in house...

For now I will keep researching and learning....

I am still interested in how asscher cuts are determined to be ideal, good, fair... etc... what factors decide the quality of the cut??

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/16/2009 1:07:06 AM
Author: glisten
Thank you all for your responses and advice.

I seem to constantly turn to WhiteFlash because they have made so many custom rings that I love... and they always seems to receive rave reviews from their customers.... however, their lack of in house asscher cuts definitely makes me hesitant as I don't want to bare the costs of seeking further information on diamonds I could only *possibly* be interested in.

I have visited JA and GOG, both seem to have a larger selection of asschers in house...

For now I will keep researching and learning....

I am still interested in how asscher cuts are determined to be ideal, good, fair... etc... what factors decide the quality of the cut??

Basic asscher info -

depth % under 70%
table below 65%
crown height 10% or above

The rest is down to images so detailed photos and an ASET image are needed. Don't go by cut grade labels on grading reports or vendor applied descriptions, these don't mean much.

 

[glisten]

Thank you!